I saw In the Heights on Broadway and it was amazing! Since it was my first broadway show, I went all out and brought some pretty sweet tickets.  The story is amazing and I recommend it to everyone! The music is perfection and the dancing is a fusion of modern, ballet, and hip-hop. My favorite song is "Paciencia y fe" which is sung by the matriarch. it translate to patience and faith and keeping them thoughout the tough time. it is a great song.

It was a pretty lonely weekend. Part of it was my own doing, other parts it wasn't, these allergies can go to hell!

The weekend ended with Crank 2. I was so excited about this movie, but it blew hardcore. They always try to hard in the sequel & parts of this movie were unbearable. Wait til it goes out on dvd, you'll thank me later.


gotta jet, this science thing is consuming me!

Finally done with the rotation from HELL!!
It wasn't a good fit for me and the little research I was allowed to do was a waste of 10 weeks.

It was a lab that seemed really good from the outside looking in, but once I got there...I was miserable from day one.
So I finished with an average evaluation and moved on to my 3rd rotation. You can read about his research here http://tiny.cc/pwu

He is kind of hardcore....he gives his Chinese post doc homework!
Well, his post-doc comes from a chemistry background and his homework has to do with cloning and other Molecular Bio techniques. But still, HOMEWORK!! They do say that if you start a career in science, you are committing to being a lifelong student. Fuck that! jk
I just want to make bank!!

I miss the fly lab...it is probably where I will end up.

Secret Life of the American Teenager is the SHIT!!

Grad school is kicking my butt, but I love it!

Exams are tough, but I can feel myself getting better with the material....i know...I am a nerd.

Other than exams, my life has been anticlimactic. Still working on the fitness and preserving my sexy. I am doing the Mens Health Urbanathalon in Sept with my fraternity big bro and friend Richard. Needless to say, I got to up my workout routine.

I am missing Mardi Gras like whoa, but we had our own lil thing at Einstein. It was pretty kickass and the food was pretty good.

I only have 4 days left in this last rotation & I am so thankful for that. The research has been less than ideal & I need to get away from that lab environment. I learned alot in this rotation, conflict management & speaking up for myself. I never thought that I would learn that in a lab, but this experience has been an eye-opening one. My next one should good, gooo GLYCANS!!

Later days!

I got an email from my undergrad about a student passing away. She was a sweet girl, I knew of her, but I would not say I knew her well.
Death is so strange. So swift and unexpected.

Only the good die young

Enough of that stuff, lets get something a happier.

Classes have started and they will be challenging, but fun.
The rotation (research) I am doing now is freaking awful. I hate the atmosphere and the research is boring to me...whatev I only have 6 weeks lift. If I finish my work early, I may stop it after 4 more weeks.

I went ice skating...it was def. an experience. I only fell once and I did it very gracefully.
Then we went to Brooklyn for dinner and beer. I want to live in Brooklyn...the area that we were in.

Me and my Best friend decided to embark upon a trip that would test or will, courage and alcohol tolerances. A week of no school, what we thought was a sufficient amount of cash and the city that never sleeps...NYC!

So we started our adventure in the city adn ended up in Philly for New Years.

It was an amazing and make me truly gratful to have a best friend in Brett. We are the definition of Bromance....we call each other everyday. It is kind of ridiculous.

He went back to the home of Crawfish and other delectable cajun treats and left me here in the Bronx to freeze.

Here are some pics of our adventure

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In central park

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Me and my amazing friend LIZ!!!!
Yes, I know. I have some serious jumping skills adn my stomach is o so sexy!

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Had to get at least one pic!

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If you every go to Philly, LOOK THIS PLACE UP!!!
Best damn food ever!

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2 hour open bar for 15 bucks....yes please!
The beautiful lady next to me is Tara, s dear friend from Undergrad
I love you sister!

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No explanation needed

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They were sober....yeah....

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back it up!

From 2008winterbreak

So that summs up the last two weeks of my life.
I passed my courses and I am in a new lab, it is going ok

Here is to a successful new year for everyone!

I just made myself emo....I hate it when I do that.

I need to be confident in how I am as an individual

My professors have lost they fucking minds if they think that I am going to know the details that they asked for on last years exam this year.

I don't what they are smoking, but apparently, it is some pretty chronic shit. They are fucking delusional if they expect me to know this about A specific subunits out of GROUP OF 7....Shit!


Anyhow, I have a final tomorrow at 8:20....fuck it, I will pass the class so it doesn't matter

But....seriously....WTF!

I promise, you will either laugh your ass off or throw up in your mouth.....Are you up for it?!?!?!

http://www.lulu.com/content/4956212

comments?

Thanksgiving alone....I advise everyone to never do this. Always go home or pick a friend to go home with. It was pretty pathetic of me to cook pasta and think about going into work.

I am getting better with my class and research....at least I think I am. I am on track to receive a P in both of my courses
I sometimes think I annoy my PI, he might think that I am a lil lazy. O well, I work hard and I have finished my projects. My shit got done. I am awesome!
I just talked with the Post-doc and she assured me that he doesn't think that I am lazy. This lab feels so right.

The department that I am rotating through is going is grieving the loss of a brilliant man. Dr. Shields had a heart attack while working out last night. This was a man who was brilliant and kind. He was my last interviewer here at Einstein and I essentially poured my soul in his office. We talked about the pitfalls in my application: some grades and my less than steller GRE scores. I then went on about how I chose not to let that define me and how I know that I can do good research. That was the only interview where I even talked about them. I left his office feeling like I had actually had a good interview. Good Men always leave the world too soon. Even though I only new him for a short time, he will serve as a constant reminder to be a both a scientist and a scholar.

I do not know what it feels to loose a mentor, I am in deep prayer for his lab members and hope they find hope and peace through this difficult time

God Bless you and yours







I am falling in love with

I find myself wondering how I will feel like on Nov. 5th. How will everything turn out? Anybody who knows me understands my dislike of this feeling. As an Obama supporter, I have to sit and wait. I remember the heartbreak with Kerry and Gore....I don't want another letdown.



I wrote the preceding text on monday and didn't have the gumption to post it. I was fearful. I forgot about that message of hope. As I saw history unfurl.

A dream once deterred has come back to thrive into a brilliant reality.
The work has only just begun...I am ready to do my part!

The media has been crazy for the last couple of days.

The tragic news of Jennifer Hudson...my prayers are with her family at this solemn time.

I then heard about the two guys in Tennessee that were planning to kill 100 African-americans. They went so far as to state that 18 of them would be beheaded. After their prelude of horror, they were going to end it with an assassination attempt on Barack Obama.

Don't believe me?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/27/obama.plot/index.html
This is my mother's fear. This is why she didn't want him to run in the 1st place.

People are crazy...in the US. For such a powerful country, we sure do foster a lot of hatred towards each other. Random acts of violence are so prevalent in urban areas and many are left unsolved for a fear of "snitching".

Moving to Canada or "down under" is looking really good. I will get my chance to live abroad for my post-doc.

I have an exam of friday. I am just trying to pass this god forsaken biochem class.

Lastly, I ask you all to pray for America. If you are not religious, dream of what American can become and what you can do to make it a reality. We CAN AND WILL be better than we are. If you do not realize that, please take a closer look our country.

I still believe. I still dream. I still have HOPE!

Cheers!

I have written a poem since my freshman year of college. I would usually write to get my feelings out of my head and onto something else. Lines will come to me while I am walking around the city or just hanging out in my lab. I am going to start writing again. I have been coming up with some great lines and it is about time I started jotting them down.

School is great! I switched labs and I am so glad I did. The lab I am currently in uses flies as their research animal. It is a really small lab. There is the PI, a post-doc, A tech and me! It is a really young lab and they have so much stuff going on. My 1st lab rotation wasn't for me and I needed to change it fast. Luckily, the lab still had an open slot. It really was a blessing.

I really miss everyone back home. I expected that, but I am dealing with it much better now. I also want to say that everyone needs to be careful. After living in the Bronx,I now alot about the demographics. Out of all of the 5 boroughs, the Bronx has the highest rate of HIV infection. The borough president and the hospitals in the area are really trying to address the issue. I am finding it hare to fathom the size of the matter. The Bronx has over 1.4 million people and they are trying to inform everyone about the spread of the virus through the various communities. I will admit it, I am worried. Will anything they do work? Will it all end of being wasted man hours? I hope not. This epidemic is spreading in our own civilized nation that has the means to stop it. How did it get this bad? I did my service learning at the HIV prevention center and I saw them do more testing and food baskets than actual "prevention" The time of handing out condom packets is nearing its' end. There needs to be something more drastic. I don't know what it is, but until then I'm gonna try and do my part. I am looking into some potential volunteer opportunities and will wait to see if any of them pan out.

Protect yourselves and each other. Be safe and make wise decisions!

When ever I get sad, I look at my wall to wall with Brett. It always cracks me up. The stuff we say to each each other is fucking ridiculous.
I wouldn't have it any other way

I had me 1st grad school exam today. I think I did well. I don't think I aced it, but I am think I did well enough for a B. This Molecular Genetics class is not a joke. I am hoping I can do really well on the next test so I can get a "High Pass" mark. I really do like the material that we are learning and might change up my rotation so I can go through a Genetics lab. I do however dislike my 1st rotation. I am working in a Microbiology & Immunology lab that does work on Necrosis and Anthrax. I got caught up in the hype of "anthrax" and failed to look at the lab as a whole.

I am thinking about switching, but I have to talk with the director 1st. i'll let you know how it goes next week.

I have come to the conclusion that I don't hang out with my fellow phd students. it is kind of strange. It is weird b/c the asians hang out together, as do the white girls. It is weird. I am the only black male in my class, yet the classes are still really diverse. I think there is this one girl who is actually intimidated by me. Weird?

I miss my family and friends and cannot wait to see them again.

Cheers

I am getting over my paranoia. I swear that when ever somebody comes up behind me when I am walking I get an adrenaline rush. Too much Law and Order SVU. It has got me thinking like a crazy man. I do love everything this city has to offer. I went out with some of my classmates last weekend. The Brooklyn brewery. That beer was heaven on earth. It was also good to just go out...finally!

I am trying to workout everyday. In the past, I would go three days straight and not go for almost a week. I didn't plan on doing it, it just happened. SO now, I am gonna workout everyday. I need to work on my fitness.

Now, last weekend was formal recruitment at my undergrad. It was so weird not being there. I mean, I owe everything to Theta Chi and to not be there was really heartbreaking. I would my brothers to see how it was going. They ended up doing great, 10 new members! The entire weekend I could not help but think about the good times I had at that house with my brothers.

I came to Einstein to really found about myself and how much I can do on my own. I am beginning to realize that I still have alot of learning to do and I think this is a great place for me to do just that. This how emotional and spiritual growth thing is kind of perplexing. I wasn't expecting it. Yet, I see myself changing into a person that I really like.

I have been listening to Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" alot lately. As I study for my upcoming exams, I got a feeling I could be someone.

Cheers

I can't shake this weird feeling. I learned about it in my Psych class, The spotlight effect. It is when you think that people are talking about you and there is a deep feeling that you are being watched. I feel like that right know. I just feel like everybody is talking about me, & not in a good way. Maybe I am paranoid and the stress of school is getting to me.Then again, maybe there is something I don't know.

I am hoping I get over this very soon. It is weird. I am wayyyy more self-conscience than I have have been before and I hate it. It is getter harder to be my normal self.

I can beat this, I can do this.

Prayer is good.

I know this is late.....my bad

It has been a two weeks since the move.
It has been a roller coaster of emotion but i think that I am finally adjusting to being here. I see why so many move here to start a new life. Th possibilities are endless
So, why am I in my room on a Saturday night on lj....i am pretty much broke (in NY terms).
I have to wait until my next check to really go into the city and explore like i want to. Until then, I'll just hang out in the BX.

The first week of classes were okay. There is so much I have to do. I just want to
enjoy my three day weekend. Alas, the life of a grad student requires that I study for Biochem and Genetics this weekend. Especially Genetics, that class is gonna be a bitch!

Say a prayer for me, the next 4-6 years will be full of trials and tribulations. I know that i will complete my degree and enjoy everything this city has to offer.

Btw, shout out to Mags for the phone call. You really put me at ease.

I will be posting pics of my travels to the Brooklyn Bridge and the US Open. I sadly left my camera when we went around Manhattan at sunset. Maybe next time??

My summer at home has been kind of lackluster, but very relaxing. I have had alot of time to rest up and prepare myself for the move of a lifetime. There is apart of me that believes that Einstein is the perfect place for me. Yet, I still hold a grudge about Notre Dame. I can't help it. It's like my senior year of high school and Tulane all over again. Centenary ended up being a good fit and it is my hope that Einstein will be a perfect fit.

The only major problem is my security deposit...say a prayer for me.

Life after undergrad is not what I expected. Maybe my feelings are all due to me delaying the real world.

I plan to take NYC by storm, they are not ready for me

Holla!

Alot has happenned in the past month

Apparently, I made an impact on Centenary....or at least some people think so.
Got some awards, it was fun. It was a huge surprise that was totally unexpected and it made my last days at Centenary that much sweeter.
I gave the "parting thoughts". It felt good to let my fellow classmates know how much I care about them.

Graduation has come and gone, & at the time I saw it hard to imagine life without Centenary and S'port. The ceremony was great and it felt so good to "pimp" across the stage. I stayed a couple of days after graduation to move out of my apartment and say some final goodbyes.

When I arrived home, I immediately had to take care of my mom. 8 days and a stint in ICU later. I am back at home playing nurse. Throughout this turbulent time, I have been unable to find a stable summer job and my relationship with my mom has been strained.

Ending with today, my 22nd birthday. Sometimes I think God is trying to tell me to become a Jehovah's Witness because my celebration never really turnout right.

WIth all of this, I am taking it as a sign. This chapter of my life has officially ended and my new one will begin on August 12th when I move to NYC. For so long, I wanted to hold onto to the past four years but I realize I have got another life to begin. I am now excited(not anxious) about my upcoming move. I am venturing into a new time and place and there is a sense of mystery tied to it all. I am invigorated...I am ready.

My next step will include graduate school, eventually medical school(yeah, I am gonna go for it) and anything else that may be in my path. I am glad that I live my life thus far and I will cherish everyone I have encountered.

I don't know how long this will last, but I am excited about the move.